Escallonia plant named &#39;IB411-6&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Escallonia  hybrid plant named ‘IB411-6’ which is characterized by a compact, densely-foliaged growth, relatively small foliage, pure white flowers, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeder's Rights application number 2018/304, filed on Oct. 16, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Escallonia hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Escallonia hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘IB411-6’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘IB411-6’ is a hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of Escallonia exoniensis ‘Fradesii Nana’ (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed white-flowered form of Escallonia sp. ‘Iveyi’ (not patented), the pollen parent. A controlled breeding program was undertaken at the inventors' commercial plant nursery in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia with the goal of developing a range of Escallonia hybrids that exhibited small foliage size, varying flower colors and densely foliaged growth habits. As part of the breeding program, controlled pollination took place in the summer of 2010-2011. Seed was collected from said cross and subsequently sown in June 2011. The resulting seedlings were grown to flowering maturity in the summer of 2012. At that time, fourteen selections were made and further grown on in the field for evaluation. Cuttings were also taken from each selection for container production trials. In February of 2015, one seedling was observed which exhibited small foliage, a compact and densely foliaged growth habit with white flowers. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘IB411-6’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘IB411-6’ was first asexually reproduced by way of softwood stem cuttings in the summer of 2012 at the inventor's nursery in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Through seven subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Escallonia cultivar, ‘IB411-6’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘IB411-6’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. ‘IB411-6’ exhibits a short plant height and a densely-foliaged growth habit; and

2. ‘IB411-6’ exhibits an abundance of relatively small foliage; and

3. ‘IB411-6’ exhibits an abundance of pure white flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 2 year old ‘IB411-6’ plant grown outdoors in Monbulk, Melbourne, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, exemplary inflorescence and flowers of a 2 year old ‘IB411-6’ plant grown outdoors in Monbulk, Melbourne, Australia.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Escallonia hybrid plant known as ‘IB411-6’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from 1 year old ‘IB411-6’ plants grown outdoors in 2 liter nursery containers. Plants were grown under full sun exposure, fertilized with a slow release granular fertilizer product, and were regularly watered with overhead irrigation. Temperatures ranged between 13 and 28 degrees Celsius during the day and 3 to 11 degrees Celsius at night. No pest and disease measures were taken. Observation data were recorded in the October of 2019.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘IB411-6’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘IB411-6’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen perennial shrub.         -   Growth habit.—Compact mounding habit.         -   Height.—Approximately 1.0 meter at maturity; 20 cm as             observed.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.2 meter at maturity; 30 cm as             observed.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 7.         -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Not any more             or less tolerant or susceptible to pests or diseases known             to effect Escallonia sp.         -   Propagation.—Propagation method — Softwood stem cuttings.             Time to develop roots — 4 to 5 weeks. Crop time — From 8 to             10 weeks are needed to produce a fully rooted cutting and 30             weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 140 mm nursery pot,             depending on geographic location. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Texture.—Juvenile roots are fleshy; older roots are woody. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—One main stem, itself freely branching, and             giving rise to numerous lateral branches. Lateral branches             arising from as low as soil level which, as the plant             reaches maturity, results in a multi-stemmed plant.         -   Main stem.—Attitude — Upward and outward. Aspect — Rounded.             Diameter — 10 mm at the base. Texture — Glabrous. Luster —             Slightly glossy. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A.             Color, oldest wood — Greyed-orange, RHS 177C.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity — 8. Attitude — Upward and             outward; angle to main stems varying between 30 and 65             degrees. Aspect — Rounded with shallow axial ribs. Strength             — Strong. Dimensions — 18 cm and 3 mm in diameter. Internode             length — 6 mm. Texture — Moderately glandular. Luster —             Slightly glossy. Color — Nearest to in between green, RHS             143C, and yellow-green, RHS 144A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Dimensions.—2.5 cm long and 1.0 cm wide.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, adaxial abaxial surfaces.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces.—Glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to             in between RHS 143A and 143B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS 143A and 143B.             Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green, RHS 137A, and yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.             Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green, RHS 137A, and yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial surface —             Nearest to in between green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS             144A. Vein color, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS 144A.         -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 5.0 mm long and 1.5 mm in diameter.             Aspect — Round. Strength — Moderately strong. Texture —             Smooth; glabrous. Luster — Very slightly glossy. Color —             Nearest to in between green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS             144A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal panicle.         -   Natural flowering season.—From late spring into mid-summer             in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—55.         -   Panicle dimensions.—5.0 cm long and 4.8 cm wide.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 4.3 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Attitude — Near horizontal. Aspect — Generally round and             shallowly axially ribbed. Strength — Strong. Texture —             Densely glandular. Luster — Slightly glossy. Color — Nearest             to in between green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS 144A. -   Bud:     -   -   Dimensions.—Approximately 9 mm long and 3 mm in diameter.         -   Shape.—Narrow obovate.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Luster.—Very slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Red-purple, nearest to a combination of RHS 57A, 57B,             57C and 57D. -   Flower:     -   -   General description.—Zygomorphic, tubular flower comprised             of a corolla tube and four dorsal petal lobes and one longer             ventral lobe. Solitary flowers occurring within the foliage.         -   Lastingness.—5 days.         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Attitude.—Upright and outward.         -   Pedicels.—Attitude, relative to peduncle — Semi-erect;             approximately 45 degrees. Aspect — Round. Dimensions — 4 mm             long and 1 mm in diameter. Texture — Smooth; glabrous.             Luster — Matte. Strength — Moderately strong. Color —             Nearest to in between green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS             144A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals — 5 fused sepals. Arrangement —             Fused into a lobed tube. Sepals. — Sepal lobe dimensions — 6             mm long and 3 mm wide. Sepal lobe shape — Broad elliptic.             Sepal lobe apex — Broad acuminate. Sepal lobe margin —             Entire. Texture, inner surface — Moderately glandular.             Texture, outer surface — Glabrous. Luster, inner surface —             Slightly glossy. Luster, outer surface — Slightly glossy.             Color when fully open, inner surface — Nearest to in between             green, RHS 143C, and yellow-green, RHS 144A. Color when             fully open, outer surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS             143C, and yellow-green, RHS 144A.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals — Five. Arrangement — Rotate;             petals are unfused. Dimensions — 12 mm deep and 14 mm in             diameter. Petals. — Shape — Narrowly obovate. Dimensions —             15 mm long and 4 mm wide. Aspect — Heavily reflexed. Apex —             Obtuse. Base — Narrow cuneate. Margin — Entire; moderately             undulated. Texture, inner and outer surfaces — Smooth;             glabrous. Luster, inner and outer surfaces — Matte. Color             when opening, inner surface — White, nearest to RHS 155D.             Color when opening, outer surface — White, nearest to RHS             155D. Color when fully open, inner surface — White, nearest             to RHS 155D. Color when fully open, outer surface — White,             nearest to RHS 155D. Petal color fading to — Not fading. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens. — Quantity — 5. Position — Superior to             the corolla and inferior to the pistil. Overall length — 9             mm long. Filament. — Dimensions — 8 cm long and 0.5 mm in             diameter. Color — White, RHS 155D. Anthers. — Shape —             Oblong, with two anther sacs. Diameter — 1.5 mm in diameter             and 2.5 mm long. Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160A.             Pollen — Abundant. Pollen Color — Yellow, nearest to RHS             11A.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils. — Quantity — 1. Stigma. — Shape —             Club-shaped. Dimensions — Approximately 1 mm long and 1 mm             in diameter. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.             Style. — Aspect — Rounded. Attitude — Slightly curved             towards the distal end. Dimensions — 8 mm long and 0.75 mm             wide. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. Ovary. —             Position — Superior. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             145A. -   Fruit and seed: None observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB411-6’ differ from the seed parent, Escallonia exoniensis ‘Fradesii Nana’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘IB411-6’ ‘Fradesii Nana’ Plant height. Taller than ‘Fradesii Nana’. Shorter than ‘IB411-6’. General coloration White. Dark red. of the flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB411-6’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed white-flowered form of Escallonia sp. ‘Peach Blossom’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘IB411-6’ Pollen parent. Growth habit. More densely foliaged. Less densely foliage. Plant height. Shorter than the pollen Taller than ‘IB411-6’. parent. General colora- A darker shade of green, A lighter shade of green, tion of the relative to the pollen parent. relative to ‘IB411-6’. mature foliage.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IB411-6’ differ from the closest known commercial comparator, Escallonia hybrid ‘IB411-1’ (for which a U.S. patent application is being filed concurrently to the instant application), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘IB411-6’ ‘IB411-1’ Plant height. Shorter than ‘IB411-1’. Taller than ‘IB411-6’. General coloration White. Mid to light pink. of the flower. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Escallonia hybrid plant named ‘IB411-6’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 